Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., November 26, 2009 Kislev 9, 5770 | | Israel Time: 13:06 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Jewish World Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Focus U.S.A. Strenger than Fiction Business Travel Magazine Week's End Anglo File Books
President Shimon Peres in Brazil on Tueday.
(AP)
Share |
Last update - 06:43 11/11/2009
Peres to Assad: Engage Israel in immediate, direct peace talks
By Shuki Sadeh, Haaretz Correspondent, and The Associated Press
Tags: Peres in Brazil, Israel news 

President Shimon Peres on Tuesday urged Syrian President Assad to engage in direct peace talks with Israel without delay.

"I am calling on President Assad to join us in direct and immediate negotiations, without mediators, without conditions, without postponements," Peres said in his speech to Brazil's parliament.

Peres opened his visit to Brazil on Tuesday, in Israel's latest bid to battle growing Iranian influence in Latin America.
Advertisement

Peres also said that Israel recognizes the Palestinians' right to an independent state, and is prepared to make painful concessions in order to make the way for that to happen.

Dueling visits to Brazil by the presidents of Israel and Iran are showing the South American powerhouse's growing role in Middle East diplomacy.

Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is due on November 23, and Brazilian officials say Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas may visit later this month.

The visits follow a July trip by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman to Brazil, during which time he tried to enlist help in stymieing Iran's alleged effort to build a nuclear weapon.

During his seven years in office, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has maintained a broad range of ties around the world - from Cuba's Castro brothers to former President George W. Bush to Ahmadinejad - and analysts say he is becoming a key player in Israel's diplomatic struggles.

"This is a chance for the Brazilians to perhaps play a constructive role in the Middle East peace process and to demonstrate a greater grasp and involvement in one of the issues most critical to world peace," said Ray Walser, with the Washington-based Heritage Foundation think tank.

Brazil, Latin America's most populous country, has emerged as an economic powerhouse in recent years, and appears to be gaining a diplomatic punch to match. It has become a voice for poor countries in the G-20. And adding to its influence, some foreign governments see it as the moderate voice of Latin America's leftist-led countries.

Gaining Brazilian support would lend credibility to Iran's government, something that Israel wants to avoid, analysts say.

Israel views Iran as a major strategic threat, fearing it is developing a nuclear weapon and noting its development of long-range ballistic missiles.

Concerns have been sharpened by Ahmadinejad's repeated references to the destruction of Israel.

Israeli officials have expressed concern over Iran's growing ties with leftist governments in Latin America.

Iranian companies are building apartments, cars, tractors and bicycles in Venezuela and the countries' leaders have exchanged visits. Iran has also opened embassies in Bolivia and Nicaragua, and an Israeli report recently suggested that Bolivia and Venezuela were supplying uranium to Iran - an allegation denied by both countries.

Peres' visit was the first by an Israeli president to Brazil in more than four decades. He met with Brazil's defense minister on Tuesday and is expected to meet with Silva on Wednesday. Also on the trip are 40 Israeli business leaders.

In interviews with the Brazilian press published Sunday, Peres played down expectations he will discuss at length the Iran issue with Silva during the visit, which Israeli officials have said will mainly be about trade and ties.

He told the O Globo newspaper he would briefly mention Iran, saying he doesn't think it's right to visit a country to debate about another.

Asked if he thought Brazil, given its good relations with both Israel and Iran, might be a good nation to help temper Iran's supposed nuclear ambitions, Peres said: Maybe. But I don't have this expectation.

Brazil's president, during the UN General Assembly in September, defended Iran's right to have a nuclear program for energy and called it a great partner.




PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Settlement freeze
Netanyahu declares 10-month settlement freeze in a bid to restart stalled peace talks.
'Kick a Jew Day'
Florida students suspended for taking part in the 'South Park' TV show inspired day.
  1.   Brazil is not likely to blindly accept the accusations that Iran 09:24  |  Richard Pearce 10/11/09
  2.   Brazil... 09:39  |  Yosemite 10/11/09
  3.   Brazil spilt wants N energy for small countries but not nukes 10:40  |  Bloodyscot 10/11/09
  4.   Richard #1 15:45  |  MarioS 10/11/09
  5.   you do not know Brazil!!!! 18:04  |  Luiz, from Brazil 10/11/09
  6.   Positive step foward from Israel.Brazil is an ally in potencial 18:11  |  Rafael Andrade 10/11/09
  7.   Brazil is about Peace 18:16  |  Marcelo 10/11/09
  8.   Brazilian weapons to Hizzbalah 18:35  |  MI Veteran 10/11/09
  9.   Please keep Peres at home. 19:05  |  AK 10/11/09
  10.   @comment#8 20:41  |  Marcelo 10/11/09
  11.   Brazil/Israel 22:14  |  Lola 10/11/09
  12.   Peres call for Asad 22:24  |  Abuya 10/11/09
  13.   Israel why do you need direct talks? 22:49  |  Basil 10/11/09
  14.   In the process of peace, Peres was an enigma these days... 23:16  |  Akram Zekaria 10/11/09
  15.   Israel should cut its losses, not find "new spheres" to fight war 23:25  |  Yehuda ben Rahem 10/11/09
  16.   #5 Luis - Brazil is a gangster type country 23:43  |  Fernando Braganza 10/11/09
  17.   Israel should focus on Latin America 00:01  |  Moises 11/11/09
  18.   Iran 00:08  |  Alex Brazilian 11/11/09
  19.   Unfortunately Basil, the record on Arab peace is not that great 00:11  |  Jacob Blues 11/11/09
  20.   Basil, Israel wants the water and the wine country... 00:16  |  BBSNews 11/11/09
  21.   Brazil - a global partner 00:22  |  Vera, from Brazil 11/11/09
  22.   Peres: so good of you to recognize that 00:27  |  Clyde 11/11/09
  23.   Israel and Brazil make natural allies 00:54  |  Chaim Ben Kahan 11/11/09
  24.   Syria-Israel: The Realities 00:59  |  giles k 11/11/09
  25.   Lula is a great guy 01:17  |  Peacefull Observer 11/11/09
  26.   Brazilian diplomacy 02:18  |  Markos Souza 11/11/09
  27.   For Basil 02:34  |  Fortuna Benmayor 11/11/09
  28.   Brazil is with Israel forever! 02:37  |  Rafael Andrade 11/11/09
  29.   Living with a Humiliating Peace 03:23  |  sfg 11/11/09
  30.   Brazil and it`s Jews 03:43  |  Alexander 11/11/09
  31.   The well meaning old man of Israel 04:29  |  Mark Lincoln 11/11/09
  32.   I LIVE IN LATIN-AMERICA. 04:45  |  Fortuna Benmayor 11/11/09
  33.   Let`s understand one simple fact 06:17  |  *BEN JABO 11/11/09
  34.   Peres- the Last Lion 07:42  |  shtarka 11/11/09
  35.   to Rafael@6 07:45  |  Ali 11/11/09
  36.   Richard Pearce 08:00  |  Brad 11/11/09
  37.   Basil 08:04  |  Brad 11/11/09
  38.   Mark Lincon: Pals Lack of Hope 08:08  |  Brad 11/11/09
  39.   #12-What Planet Are You From 08:24  |  Give Me A Break 11/11/09
  40.   The Last Statesman of Israel 08:41  |  shtarka 11/11/09
  41.   Peres in Brazil 12:07  |  Philip 11/11/09
  42.   To Philip in Afula 12:42  |  Lola 11/11/09
  43.   Alexander in Curitiba 12:53  |  Lola 11/11/09
  44.   To # 42 13:07  |  Philip 11/11/09
  45.   #44 13:29  |  lola 11/11/09
  46.   Israel`s Current Leadership 20:53  |  Barney 20/11/09
Special Offers
Advertisement
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
Award-Winning 'Obsession'
Watch 'Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West' Online FOR FREE!
Protea Hills
A Retirement Village in Nature Nestled in the Foothills of Jerusalem
Date Local Jewish Singles
Ready to meet your match? Join Jdate today!
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
More Headlines
11:26 Report: Israel will release Barghouti in Shalit deal
12:56 Barak: I believe settlement halt will lead to renewed PA peace talks
08:07 Not enough manpower to implement settlement freeze, cabinet told
09:25 'Settlement freeze' won't bring about peace
09:50 Why can we talk to Hamas about Shalit, but not peace?
11:12 Israel must prove Shalit deal is worth the price
09:19 South Africa: Israel actions in East Jerusalem akin to apartheid
13:02 Mumbai commemorates first anniversary of city-wide terror attacks
22:21 TV ROUND-UP: Netanyahu declares 10-month settlement freeze
10:11 Israeli doctors in Romania egg-trafficking probe to return home
12:28 Report: Lebanese man charged with spying for Israel
11:00 Justice Minister taps Yehuda Weinstein as next attorney general
08:24 Chavez brands Israel a 'murderous arm of the Yankee empire'
09:21 Was Swede who abandoned his family a secret Mossad agent?
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
| Advert: Recommended Restaurants | Makom: Engaging on Israel
| Search engine marketing
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved